Tuesday, February 14, 2012

a garden tour

It has been a rather strange summer her weather-wise. Rain, even a light frost and temperatures soaring into the forties. Unfortunately this erratic weather has played havoc in the garden this year. The year before last I successfully grew many vegies from seed. But it wasn't to be this year. Almost every seed I planted failed to come up, and those that did mysteriously disappeared. I think it may be to a big increase in snails in the garden.
 
Lettuce, though so successful the year before, shot straight to seed as soon as the temperature soared.
 
There might have been one or two tantrums involved.  
 
Though it has been incredibly frustrating this year, it is not all doom and gloom. Let me show you around.



This picture was taken last week, and the perpetual spinach, silverbeet and parsley have now tripled in size after the latest rains. Purchased as seedlings.


The corn seedlings have grown huge and you can see many husks developing. I'm quite excited as I've never grown corn before. Some locals plant them all around their vegie gardens as a protection against our harsh Summer weather.


Tiny tomato seedlings have been growing like crazy. About four have survived. I had one full sized tomato plant survive despite planting about 6.


Here is the back of the garden. Needing weeding. Everything there is from last year and has completely gone to seed.

Let's move onto the rest of the garden.



Two of the apple trees we planted the year before last fruited this year. Above is a Lord Lambourne. You can see some hail damage there, but they were all still edible. Actually, they were delicious.  That combination of a crisp, juicy but dry crunch that you just don't get in supermarket apples. Sweetness with a tang.


Our Leighton Green Leylandii has grown to head height. We have a few lines of them running around the boundary, mixed with privet, photinia, butterfly bush and vibernum.
On the subject of Leylandii and neighbours I read a very interesting article here.



I couldn't tell you what this is - a day lily?  Note the dead grass in the background.


Perhaps the Autumn plantings will be a little more successful that the Summer.

As each season passes, we are learning more about the micro climate on our block, which will change as plants grow. The general climate here is rather harsh and with some altitude. With drying winds and scorching sun. There are ways around it, and many seasoned local gardeners are willing to share their experiences.

It is all a learning curve.

How has your garden been growing?  Have you had a successful /unsuccessful season? Or are you in the planning stage of your garden?

15 comments:

  1. Amazed and delighted that you have a Lord Lambourne apple tree - my uncle has one, but they are rarely available in garden centres to buy as trees now in the UK, and the apples themselves are impossible to buy in the shops. Good job for doing your bit to preserve these heritage varieties - or perhaps they are not so rare in Australia?

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  2. I'm still planning mostly, this feb is cold for us here in ireland so we're waiting till march for most things. i know exactly what you mean about fresh apples i miss them so much! Your op shops sounded amazing the other day btw i wish there was more around here...

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  3. Interesting you should say about the micro climate of your yard and garden area...we have a huge Golden Elm in our yard and it effects all our growing...because of the enormous amount of gorgeous shade that it provides our property everything we grow under it and around it flowers at different times than anyone elses..the corn you mentioned has been a big winner in my vegie patch for providing shade, even when the corn was picked I left the stalks as they protected what was next to them....I will definately spread the corn plantings around again next year. Also I found that ants were taking my lettuce seeds..a whole three plantings of them...

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  4. Planning, planning, planning here...which is sometimes the best stage, before all the weeds and heat and bugs intrude on the perfect garden vision ;) I'm glad you were able to find so many positives in what sounds like a harsh season. Your tour was beautiful!
    -Jaime

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  5. I really enjoyed my tour around your garden. This season has been extremely strange for us here too. I have herbs that have continued to grow all winter [I'm in the states] along with my fall garden, where we have broccoli, collards, carrots, onions and beets. I even have a row of lettuce that is growing which is something I have never had grow in a fall garden. I just hope summer is kind!

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  6. Love the new heading photo!

    It's all about working with nature and being grateful for the positives, as much as the good eating, I think!

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  7. Our vegie garden hasn't been that successful this year although we have had better weather. My tomato's are going well but my zucchini flourished and then died. Our apples are speckled like yours but still good to eat and we have some donut peaches for the first time, yum! what are you going to plant in autumn? Re snails, get some ducks! xo

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  8. Hit and miss for us. Too much rain and not enough sun. Root crops like garlic have suffered the most. I'm not sure we have enough warmth left this season for the pumpkins to ripen properly either. Strawberries have been great and I'm hoping the passionfruit will ripen this year - it will be our first harvest.

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  9. I've been struggling over choosing a hedge to plant this winter. I'm tempted with the Leylandii as they grow so quickly, but as mentioned in the article, I'm not a fan of the solid wall they create as it reminds me of those 'gated' properties in the southern highlands. We've had the tortured season you have also. There will be no glut of red tomatoes this year, only green. A good lesson that every season is different!

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  10. I've been struggling over choosing a hedge to plant this winter. I'm tempted with the Leylandii as they grow so quickly, but as mentioned in the article, I'm not a fan of the solid wall they create as it reminds me of those 'gated' properties in the southern highlands. We've had the tortured season you have also. There will be no glut of red tomatoes this year, only green. A good lesson that every season is different!

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  11. our garden has been suffering from similar weather to yours....it's all a bit waterlogged at the moment and the weeds are becoming rampant!
    You still have some good successes there though...defintely looks like a daylilly as we have a few in our front garden....watch out for the sap if you cut them as it can stain light coloured benches!
    Thanks for a lovely tour!

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  12. your red flower that you think is a day lily looks like a deformed Gladioli.

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  13. So frustrating when things don't bloom into life all "Better Homes and Garden-ish" isn't it! Having similar conundrums here I'm afraid. Everything seems to go to seed the second I turn around too. Fingers crossed you'll have the garden of eden come Autumn. Hope all is lovely in your world :) x

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  14. Lovely to have a wander around your garden, Tania:) I can't wait to get back into gardening. I'm dreaming vegie garden beds and horse poo! x

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  15. The flower is a gladiola or as we call them a "glad". We are just getting ready to start our seeds and are hoping to have a much better garden this year as we are planning to utilize a lot more mulch to keep the soil from drying out and to keep it cool once the heat starts up again.

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